HISTORY

Operation Breakthrough began in Tuen Mun police district in 1996. A group of officers with strong sporting backgrounds decided to take a radical approach to an area that had a high level of juvenile delinquency and set out to change the lives of youngsters and their perception of the police by encouraging interaction through the medium of sport. In those early days boxing was taught to a handful of young offenders by two officers, with the interest and experience in this sport. The venue was on the rooftop of a police station using borrowed equipment as there was no financial support.

The initiative has since expanded significantly into other sports and numerous other police districts. Operation Breakthrough currently involves children in boxing, rugby, soccer, dance, sailing, dragon boat racing, lion dance, volleyball, basketball and running. Other activities are being planned Forcewide. In March 2005 the work of Breakthrough was recognised by the Laureus World Sports Foundation, who adopted the scheme as one of their "Sport for Good" projects.

Persistent offending by young people is damaging to the community. Anti-social behaviour creates victims, destroys property, divides communities and costs money and resources that could be better spent elsewhere.

Operation Breakthrough recognizes and values young people and the problems they face. The project supports effective programmes and activities, which will involve young people with a view to stopping or reducing them from offending.

Young people want to be listened to and be involved as contributing members to the community.

There is no single solution to the problem and Operation Breakthrough intends to create a range of responses to help young people: adopting a multi-agency approach with the police and non-government agencies.